Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Save A Life
SOPHIA’S POV
Damien dragged
through the resort hallways. His grip was so tight on my arm so tight I knew it would leave bruises. My wolf was whimpering inside .
We reached a stairwell and he shoved
inside.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Damien growled.
His eyes were still flashing gold. His wolf was right at the surface.
"I could ask you the sa thing!" I shouted back. "How did you even find ? How did you get into that room?"
"I’m an alpha. I have resources. Simon told
you’d left the beach. I tracked your scent to Zade’s wing. The hotel manager gave
a key when I told him my wife was in danger."
"I wasn’t in danger!"
"You were half-naked in bed with another man!" His voice rose to a roar that made
flinch. "What the fuck were you thinking, Sophia? Do you have any idea what people will say when this gets out? What it will do to Ashley when she finds out her mother was-"
"Was what?" I cut him off. "Was seeking comfort from soone who actually wanted to be near ? Was trying to feel like sothing other than a piece of garbage for once in my life?"
"So you decided to cheat on
with my business rival?"
The hypocrisy was so absurd I actually laughed. "Cheat on you? CHEAT ON YOU? You’ve been sleeping with Tiffany for months! She’s living in our house, wearing matching pajamas with you, sleeping in our bed! But sohow I’m the one who’s cheating?"
"Tiffany and I aren’t-"
"Don’t you dare lie to !" My voice cracked. "I’ve seen the photos. I’ve heard Ashley talking about your ’perfect family of three.’ I saw the lipstick mark on your neck. I know she stayed overnight at the villa. So don’t you dare stand there and act like I’m the one who broke our vows!"
Damien’s jaw clenched. "This isn’t about Tiffany."
"Then what is it about? Because you sure as hell didn’t drag
out of there because you suddenly care about our marriage."
He was quiet for a long mont. When he finally spoke, his voice was calr but sohow colder. "I need your help."
I almost laughed again. "My help? After you refused to help ? After you hung up on
when I begged you to stop Simon from destroying Lance’s life?"
"This is different."
"How is it different?"
Damien’s eyes t mine. "Simon’s mother had a stroke. She needs ergency brain surgery or she’ll die but the surgery is extrely complex. Only a handful of surgeons in the country can perform it successfully."
My stomach dropped. I already knew where this was going.
"Lance is one of those surgeons," Damien continued. "One of the best, actually. Simon’s family doctor recomnded him specifically."
"No."
"Sophia-"
"Absolutely not. You want
to ask Lance - the man whose hands Simon had shattered, whose career Simon destroyed, whose entire life Simon ruined - to save Simon’s mother? Are you out of your mind?"
"It’s not about what I want. It’s about saving a woman’s life."
"Then get one of the other surgeons!"
"They’re all booked or unavailable. The surgery needs to happen within forty-eight hours or there could be permanent brain damage. Lance is the only option."
I stared at my mate, this man I’d once loved with my whole heart, and felt nothing but disgust. "So this is why you burst into Zade’s room. Not because you were jealous. Not because you cared about what I was doing. But because you need sothing from ."
"Sophia-"
"How did you even know Lance could still perform surgery? Simon had his hands broken! Both of them!"
Damien looked uncomfortable. "The damage wasn’t as severe as Simon thought. Lance has been in intensive physical therapy. His doctor says he could potentially operate again with assistance, though it would be risky."
"Risky for him or risky for the patient?"
"Both."
My wolf snarled. The sheer audacity of this man - of all of them - was staggering.
"Let
get this straight," I said slowly. "Simon destroyed Lance’s career, his reputation, and his health. Now you want
to convince Lance to risk what’s left of his surgical ability to save the mother of the man who ruined his life. And you think I should do this... why exactly?"
"Because it’s the right thing to do. Because a woman’s life is at stake."
"How about when I was begging for Lance’s life? How about when Lance’s life was at stake too? it still is. Simon’s mother raised him to be the kind of man who breaks people’s hands for fun. Forgive
if I don’t feel particularly motivated to save her."
Damien glared at
"That’s cold, Sophia. Even for you."
"Cold?" I stepped closer to him. "You want to talk about cold? How about ignoring your wife for months while you played house with your mistress? How about refusing to help when an innocent man was being destroyed?”
"I’m asking you to save a life!"
"And I’m telling you no! I have no right to make decisions for Lance. He’s been through hell because of your friend.”
I was so pissed. I turned to leave, but Damien grabbed my arm again.
"If you don’t help , I’ll make sure your family suffers," he said quietly.
I turned to him. My blood turned to ice. "You wouldn’t."
"Try ." His face was hard. This was the alpha, not the man. "Help
convince Lance, or everyone you love pays the price."
I pulled my arm free. My whole body shook with rage. "Do you even hear yourself?"
"I hear myself just fine. The question is, do you hear ? Help , or your family suffers. Your choice."
I looked at him - really looked at him - and saw a stranger. The mate bond was still there, still pulling at , but it felt corrupted now.
"You know what?" I said quietly. "Even if I wanted to help you, I couldn’t. Because you’re asking the impossible."
"What do you an?"
"You want
to convince Lance to help the mother of the man who destroyed his hands but you’re threatening my family if I don’t. So tell , Damien -if I go to Lance and tell him about your threats, what do you think he’ll say? Do you think he’ll agree to save Simon’s mother while you’re actively trying to hurt the people I love?"
Damien’s jaw clenched. He hadn’t thought of that.
"Here’s the truth," I continued. "The only way Lance might consider this surgery is if he decides it’s the right thing to do on his own. Without threats. but the more you pressure , the more you threaten my family, the less likely he is to agree. Because Lance is a good man. And good n don’t respond well to bullies."
"I’m not a bully," Damien growled.
"Yes, you are. You and Simon both. Now Simon’s mother is going to pay the price for his cruelty."
"She’s innocent in all this!"
"So was Lance!" I shouted. "So were all the people Simon has hurt over the years! But you never cared about them. You only care now because it’s affecting soone you love."
Damien’s eyes were blazing. "So that’s it? You’re just going to let an innocent woman die?"
"I’m going to respect Lance’s choice. If he decides to do the surgery, I’ll support him. If he decides not to, I’ll support that too."
"Sophia—"
"We’re done here." I pushed past him toward the door. "Go back to your perfect family. I’m going to find Lance and tell him the truth about what you’re trying to do. And then he can make his own decision."
"If you do that, I swear to gods I’ll-"
"You’ll what?" I spun around. "Destroy my family? Do it. Show everyone what kind of man you really are. Show Ashley what her father does when he doesn’t get his way. I’m done being afraid of you."
I walked out of the stairwell. My whole body shook but my head was held high.
Behind , I heard Damien punch the wall. The concrete cracked under his fist.
But he didn’t follow .
I pulled out my phone and called Lance’s cousin, the one who’d texted
about the attack. She gave
the hospital na and room number. Lance had been moved to a larger city for specialized care.
I booked the next flight out, not caring what Damien would do. I didn’t care about anything except making sure Lance knew the truth - that I would stand by whatever decision he made, without pressure, without threats.
For the first ti in years, I was choosing soone else’s wellbeing over my mate’s demands.
And it felt like freedom.
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